Less than a year after the break-up of the Federation, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland became the independent states of Zambia and Malawi respectively.

Prior to its closure, the Rhodesian mission in London flew the newly adopted flag in a provocative gesture, as the Commonwealth Prime Ministers arrived for their Conference.

[2] Throughout this time, the UK refused to recognise Rhodesia's independence and maintained that the dark-blue ensign remained the official flag of the country, but in 1972, the Rhodesian Olympic team raised the earlier pre-1953 dark Blue Ensign at the Olympic Village in Munich, while "God Save The Queen" was played.

[4] In 1979, the country became known as Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, although not legally, and a new flag was adopted on 4 September that year featuring the pan-African colours of red, black, yellow and green, and the Zimbabwe Bird.

[5] However, under the terms of the Lancaster House Agreement, the country briefly returned to British rule under the Union Jack from 12 December 1979 although the Zimbabwe Rhodesia flag remained de facto in use.

[[Coloured sheet]][6] The first flag used by the governor of Southern Rhodesia followed the usual pattern for representatives of the British Crown.

Unique among the flags of the governors of British Colonies, this shield of Arms was not surrounded by the customary wreath presumably because Southern Rhodesia was not a full dominion.

[5] This flag was, however, short-lived, as the self-declared state soon reverted to British rule before gaining independence as Zimbabwe in 1980.

[…] The lesson of Rhodesia, for white supremacists, is that black people are a threat to a healthy white-run society.

"[10] In an article for The New York Times, writer John Ismay noted that the flag's popularity among the alt-right stems from its lack of recognizability compared to other white supremacist symbols.

Ismay stated that "If such symbols and slogans, for a North American audience, lack the instant shock effect of a Confederate or Nazi flag, that is part of the point," noting how alt-right online storefront Commissar Clothing describes Rhodesian imagery as "inside jokes and references that the general public will not understand.